Let the first annual Backbench Independence Day begin!

Just one day after House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer challenged disgruntled backbenchers to start exercising their
privilege to stand and be recognized without the prior approval of the party
whip, MPs will find themselves faced with a proposal that would go one step
further in freeing the pre-QP members' statements from central control: the once-delayed, much-discussed Liberal-backed opposition
motion to forcibly randomize the speaking order by replacing the current
system of party-submitted lists with an alphabetized rotation.

Later this evening, MPs will get a second chance to demonstrate their desire
to shrug off the mantle of central party control as debate begins on
Conservative MP Brad Trost's quietly radical proposal to have the Commons elect committee
chairs by secret ballot, instead of continuing with the pro forma votes at the
table that merely confirm the choices made by the government - or, in some
cases, the Official Opposition, which controls the chair at the three oversight
committees, as well as Status of Women.

Several opposition MPs, including Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, New
Democrats Kennedy Stewart and Jamie Nicholls, and Liberal Ted Hsu have added
their names as seconders, as have 15 of Trost's fellow backbenchers, which bodes
well for its eventual passage even if the government were to advise the
Conservative caucus not to support it.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who was originally slated to
introduce today's motion, is off to Labrador this afternoon, where he'll hit the
hustings with by-election candidate Yvonne Jones. Before departing for points
east, however, Trudeau will attend the weekly caucus meeting, after which he
will make himself available to the press.

Later this afternoon, the PM will invite the cameras -- and, it's worth
noting, just the cameras, both video and still -- into his office for a
brief photo-op to mark the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Also hitting the Hill media circuit this afternoon: representatives from the
International Fund for Animal Welfare, who will hold what may well turn out to
be an overly high concept event by the Centennial Flame, during which
"Wayne Mustardson," the "Minister of Obsolete Industry," will introduce the
"Seal Blubber Innovation Tax Credit," which will "secure the future of the
Commercial Seal Harvest and help Canadians who care deeply for this proud
industry."

On the committee front:

Treasury Board President Tony Clement goes beforeGovernment Operations to defend
the latest round of estimates, a task in which he'll be aided by a parade of
senior civil servants, including his second-in-command, Treasury Board Secretary
Yaprak Baltacioglu and a full accompaniment of assistant secretaries.

Over at Canadian Heritage, the committee will give due consideration to Conservative MP Wladyslaw Lizon's bid to
establish John Paul II Day, which is scheduled to begin clause-by-clause
review after just one hour of testimony from the bill's sponsor.

Finally, International Traderetreats behind closed doors to work on its report on the
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India.

Outside the precinct, Conservative MP Royal Galipeau drops by the Canadian
Science and Technology Museum to make an announcement "regarding Canadian
entrepreneurial spirit," as exemplified by "leading-edge products developed
by Canadian innovators."

Also out and about today:

Industry Minister Christian Paradis heads to Montreal to talk up his
government's support for Canada's aerospace sector at an industry-sponsored
convention that, according to the advisory, will bring together "about 550
companies and 1,300 participants from 28 countries."

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver embarks on his fourth trip to
Washington, DC since assuming his current role, where he'll speak at the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies.

Finally, not on the nightly PMO-issued notable event list: an "information
picket" outside Foreign Affairs departmental headquarters, during which members
of the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, who are currently
in a legal strike position, and, as such, are calling on the government to
"return to negotiations immediately."

For up to the minute dispatches from the precinct and beyond, keep your
eye on the Parliament Hill Ticker below -- or, alternatively, bookmark
it and check back throughout the day.

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About the Author

Kady O'Malley has been covering the Hill for more than a decade (yes, really) for a variety of publications. An Ottawa girl (not quite born, but raised), she has a passion for politics that borders on the unhealthy, and has liveblogged her way through hundreds of committee meetings, press conferences, judicial inquiries, budget launches, cabinet shuffles, and even the odd constitutional crisis. Oh, and yes, her Boston Terrier really is named "BlackBerry."
For up-to-the-minute bulletins, follow Kady on twitter!